and at the white house, president obama spoke about the man who inspired his first step into politics. >> like so many around the globe, i cannot live my own life without the example mandela set. >> reporter: he will join other leaders in south africa for the funeral set for december 15. cbs news, washington. >> now, here at home, mourners continue to pay their respects at the south african embassy near the new mandela statue on massachusetts avenue. this morning, more and more people were stopping by to place flowers at the base of the new statue. saray chance spent the morning at the embassy. >> reporter: construction workers have removed fencing that was preventing people from getting close to nelson mandela's statue. now, they can get up close, lay flowers and pay their respects. >> a sad day but what a gait man and a great life. >> reporter: they came to reflect, give respect, and for terry derase to drop a single red rose at his statue. >> my son said it was the wrong color because i had white roses too, and he said it meant love, and i said, well, that's nelson mandela. >> repo